Since Michael has accused me of playing favorites with my children, allow me to disprove him :)

On Sunday, Julia looked out the window and saw the neighbor kids playing their little hearts out. She immediately informed me that she needed to “go outside and run!” So run we did. To the playground in fact. And she could not have been happier – she ran up to every person she saw and exclaimed: “I runnin!!!!” Even 2 and 1/2 year olds know that sunshine and fresh air are reasons for celebration.

I love these pictures because they capture her joy (and spunk…er, attitude? as evidenced by the picture on the left.) This girl not only laughs constantly, she makes ME laugh. I’m grateful for her.

the situation with the laundry is this: it’s everywhere. and Belle thinks it’s just fantastic to take all the clean clothes… …and make them not so clean anymore. she is my not-helper. cute, adorable, completely kissable… but a not-helper all the same.

I think the last time I posted was in the Fall. What a shocker. I keep saying I want to get back into blogging, but it just hasn’t been in the cards lately. I’m hoping I can carve out some time for it in the future. BUT, it’s been a good break for me. I would say I’ve been in a season of weakness lately. Not in a bad way, but in a way that makes me realize my dependence on Jesus. I used to feel like I had a large capacity to get things done. For whatever reason, that capacity seems to have shrunk. Maybe it’s the two little people that live with us. It could also be all the time I waste on facebook. I do have a love-hate relationship with that monster. ANYWAYS, I’m trying to learn what God has for me in it, and rest content with whatever I can get done in a day. and learn how to be more diligent with my time. It really is good.

A little rambly update on the girls. my biggest job is keeping them in pants that are long enough. my girls may as well be walking on stilts. both are in the 93rd percentiles for height. Julia is well above the max height for all 2T sizes. I’m serious – I can’t find pants that stay long enough for more than 3 months.

Julia is a chatterbox. Sweetest thing ever, yet has quite the temper. I blame her father she has a very vivid imagination and loves to play with her Entourage. what is the Entourage? you ask: all her Hello Kittys, Minnie Mouse, Cinderella, Birdie, Person, Other Person, Elephant, Baby Moses, Red Man, Red Lady, Chickie, all the people who live in her pink castle, donkey, Mr. Cow, and I could go on and on. the Entourage started with 5 characters. It’s gotten out of control. She loves playing games on the Kindle. she’s become a bit of a picky eater, but we’re making a lot of progress in getting her to try new things. but don’t worry, she’ll still let you know if the food you just spent an hour preparing is “GROSS.”

she keeps us laughing constantly. we can’t imagine life without her and her infectious joy, despite her crazy antics.

and then there’s Isobel. already 9 and 1/2 months. so many things I could say about this girl. sweet, cuddly, happy, excited about EVERYTHING. above all, she is my snuggler. Julia slept through the night at 9 weeks old and never looked back. Belle waited until 7 months to do it consistently. Definitely defied my expectations (sorely), but it has forged a special bond between the two of us. many hours in the rocking chair will do that. Just last night she was up most of the night with a cough and could only be soothed by coming to bed with us. I don’t like sleep deprivation, but I will always love that memory of having her snuggle up with us in bed. I keep trying to remember that these days don’t last long.

She is different from her sister in practically every way. But they are already best friends. I’m really excited to see all that lies ahead for them.

And that’s it for now. Hopefully I’ll be able to post more and update less. Happy Thursday and happy SPRING!

Clearly I’ve been neglecting the blog. BUT – my kids are still alive and clothed. So I consider it a victory. I know I only have 2 kids…and lots of people have 4 or 5 or 6… but somehow going from one to two has really given me a run for my money. :)It’s also taken all our money…but that was a given, right?

She is the sweetest thing ever. 4 and 1/2 months old now, and I couldn’t be more in love with her. Looks nothing like her sister, and she acts nothing like her either. It’s really funny how different they are. We are so grateful God added her to our little family.

August – 2 weeks vacation. 1 in Bethany Beach with the Smiths. 1 in Ocean City, NJ with the Sharps. And I don’t have any real pictures. Here’s are more Instagrams to make it interesting though.

September – I turned 26. This is sad because I’m now almost 30. Mike is rolling his eyes.

October – we are finally settling into a more predictable routine! And I am digging out of all the laundry that has been piling up. Mike went to England. Again. Without me. Again. But I went to visit Jer and Ange and Ally!

Interesting fact: Isobel and Ryder are 1 week apart. Julia and Colby are 2 weeks apart. Clearly we planned for them to marry each other when they grow up.

And Meg and I went out to Springton Manor to take some pictures of the kids. Which brings me to the first real pictures I’ve taken since Isobel was born. They’re mostly of Julia and Chloe. Who wanted to: jump pick up sticks pick up stones throw stones not pose for pictures.

Enjoy.

And there’s my long abbreviated update. When you’ll hear from me next is anybody’s guess. We’re hunkering down to brave Hurricane Sandy for the next few days, so it could be months! But that’s ok. Life changes, and it’s not all bad. :)

Well, I’ve been extremely neglectful of this blog. But, I figure: better to neglect the blog than the child. ;)

I finally pulled out my camera yesterday for the first time in what seems like ages. Which is fitting given the occasion: bath time. Sometimes ages go by in between Julia’s baths. My mom normally steps in to make sure my child is clean.

This last picture can sum up a lot of what’s been going on here lately:

- Julia needs a haircut. But the last one was disastrous, so I’m just kind of ignoring the issue and hoping it will resolve itself. Hence the spectacular comb over.

- We painted the girls’ room pink. Along with parts of the trim, ceiling and carpet. I don’t really care at this point. :)

- Julia is now in a toddler bed (that stripey pink and white thing is her comforter.) The first week was rough, but things are going much better now.

- I have not gotten around to hanging pictures on the wall, so for now they will artistically “lean” on bookshelves. I would like to personally thank whoever made that stylish. And don’t worry – they’re not heavy.

And besides that, we are just waiting on having a baby. Mike just got home from a trip to England, I’ve gotten a pedicure, and the house was cleaned top to bottom as of last week (a true miracle if you know me.) Which means this child needs to come soon. My house doesn’t stay clean for longer than a few days. BUT, there are still 3 weeks until d-day, so I’m trying to keep myself busy. Namely with trying to finish painting my kitchen cabinets. Funny thing about them – they refuse to paint themselves. I wish someone had warned me not to start this project while pregnant. That’s a joke. Many people did. Which is why I’ve had two-toned cabinets since March.

Well, that’s that. Hopefully next time I update, I will have a picture of a pretty little baby girl to go along with it!

"And he said, ‘I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life… …So it was not you who sent me here, but God.’”

“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”

I want to see suffering the way Joseph did. I want to remember the difficult times God has already redeemed, and let it give me faith for current and future trials. Because keeping God’s sovereignty in view is the difference between bitterness and true, redemptive-minded forgiveness. It’s the difference between being ‘”ruined” and being surrendered. And the effect is a patient, God-ward hope in even the most horrific of circumstances. The effect is peace. It’s faith. It’s love. It’s kindness. It’s provision for the so many things we didn’t even know we were lacking. I’m so grateful that God can transform sin by us and against us, and turn it into unforeseen mercies. And if our current trials are not mercies yet, we have the ultimate example in the Cross. Out of so much sin came the greatest mercy of all. It has changed everything, and it will change everything.

“I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” - Psalm 27:13-14